There have been some whispers floating around the web tonight that hint that Apple may be having trouble preparing for an iOS 7 launch down the road. Multiple rumors put the debut of iOS 7 some time this summer at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference with a launch a couple months later, but Apple could be struggling to meet that deadline.

John Gruber, a man notorious for juicy rumors about our favorite Cupertino company, took to a Branch thread tonight with a bit of distressing information. According to him,

“What I’ve heard: iOS 7 is running behind, and engineers have been pulled from OS X 10.9 to work on it.”

This is a bummer no matter which way you look at it. Either Apple doesn’t complete iOS 7 on time, or it doesn’t complete Mac OS 10.9 on time. Of course, neither piece of software has an official release date yet, but customers want them as soon as possible, so any sort of delay is not good news. As it happens, this isn’t the first time the iPhone has had to recruit people from the Mac camp to help out. Back in 2007, Apple had to divert some of its Mac-related efforts over to iPhone in order to launch the device on schedule.

Now, don’t worry. Gruber did have some good news to share as well. Apparently Apple’s design guru Jony Ive has a lot of input in the look and feel of iOS 7, bringing some major visual overhauls to the OS. Rumor has it that the changes are so significant that testers are required to put polarized screen shields on their devices to shield the new design from prying eyes. Though, the few that have seen the UI tweaks are pleased with the results. This is great news, as iOS has been looking tired for some time.

As for the reason behind the iOS 7 delay, MG Siegler has an interesting bit of information that could shed light on the matter:

“Since we’re talking whispers, the one thing I’ve heard multiple times now is about some sort of biometric scanner on the new iPhone.Perhaps not surprising given the AuthenTec buy — but surprised it would be this soon. Still, have heard it could be a big part of not only authentication, but payments of some sort (maybe even through Passbook) down the road. The most intriguing whisper: that Apple could charge a fee for devs to use it.”

Personally, that sounds a bit fishy to me, but you never know. I just hope Apple can pull off both software launches without too much trouble.

If you had to choose, would you rather Apple put most of its efforts into the next version of iOS, or the next version of Mac OS? I’d choose iOS 7 hands down, but that’s just me. Share your thoughts in the comments section below or on twitter @TiP_Jake.

About Jake Rosati

Jake is the guy that stops at every cell phone store he sees, much to his friends' dismay. A proud owner of an iPhone 4, which he has affectionately named Quentin, he is also a student at Fordham University where he studies English and film. Follow him on Twitter @TiP_Jake.

I say not effort into iOS 7. We spend more time with a smartphone than we do with a laptop or desktop. Also everyone is crying that the look of iOS is stale.

A Developer

@jabombardier Well, I don’t. I spend 10-14 hours a day behind a desktop machine so that people like you can get what you want on your iPhones and iPads. So, please don’t forget to to consider my needs too.

AnthonyHunter

iOS needs a MAJOR OVERHAUL NOW!!!! Put the effort there and end this senseless loss of mobile device market share to Android and Samsung.

jabombardier

@A Developer lol I don’t. I have a MacBook also. But now taking you and them many likes who are behind a screen so many hours a day, I don’t think at all you will have to fear the loss of development on the next iteration OSX. My logic though weird tells me that if they have to bring in engineer’s to help complete iOS, then the boxy OSX is not in trouble.

TiP_Cam

@AnthonyHunter What kind of overhaul would you like to see? Any key areas Apple needs to work on?

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